Posted on Feb 10, 2016
New Army PT test for recruits could determine their career path
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 9
Two quick thoughts. First of all, the obvious difference between physical fitness and intellectual capacity is that the former is much more malleable in response to the stimulus of training. Second of all, the proposed test is much more of a traditional sports & conditioning test. As a former college athlete, I think tactical fitness is quite different than traditional sports conditioning and requires that a premium be placed on endurance as opposed to explosiveness. I know a lot of strong and explosive people who have a very low VO2 max and get gassed very easily. From what I've read, most elite military selection courses value stamina and strength endurance over raw explosiveness as well.
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I like the idea on the surface, however, what is the intended end result? If both sexes are free to join any MOS, without a change in the APFT grading scales/system, what real effect will this have? Sure, this may keep someone on the extreme end of the fitness spectrum from joining the infantry, however, if I remember correctly there is (was?) a physical fitness test of some sort administered at Reception Battalion prior to shipping off to basic. This may help the Drill Sergeants, etc, but what effect will it have on the recruits first units? Again, this seems like a step in the right direction, but before passing a true and accurate judgment, I'd like to know more.
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SSG (Join to see)
In my mind I see it as a way to stop the recruiter from just throwing anyone into any MOS. Not that all recruiters are bad, however, we've all heard the stories/experienced it. I think its like you said, SFC, a step in the right direction.
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My question is WHEN would it be given? When I started basic I was a fat body who couldn't run, push up or sit up. By graduation I was maxing my run and push ups. By the end of AIT I maxed sit ups. If I had taken this type of PT test initially. .... let's just agree it would have been bad. So at what point (basic, AIT) would accurate results qualify a soldier for an MOS?
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